Nimzo-Indian: Classical, 4...c5 5.Nf3

Nimzo-Indian: Classical, 4...c5 5.Nf3

Definition

The line arises from the Nimzo-Indian Defence after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.Nf3.
• “Classical” refers to White’s 4.Qc2, a move first championed by Akiba Rubinstein, which protects the knight on c3 and avoids doubled pawns.
• The immediate 4…c5 is Black’s most forcing reply: instead of castling with 4…0-0, Black attacks the d4-pawn at once.
• With 5.Nf3 White develops naturally, defends d4 again, and keeps all central pawn breaks (e2-e4, d4-d5, or c4-cxd5) in reserve.

Typical Move Order

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.Nf3 … and play may continue:

• 5…cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.g3 d5 (leading to an isolated queen’s pawn)
• 5…Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.dxc5 Na6 (Black keeps the bishop pair)
• 5…d5 6.cxd5 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qxd5 (symmetrical IQP position)

Because both sides keep flexible structures, the variation often transposes into Queen’s Gambit, Tarrasch, or even Benoni-style middlegames.

Strategic Themes

• Pressure on d4. 4…c5 strikes the White centre before it can be fully stabilised.
• Bishop Pair vs. Structure. If Black plays …Bxc3 Black gains the two bishops but gives White the healthier pawn formation (no doubled c-pawns).
• IQP and Hanging Pawns. After 5…cxd4 6.Nxd4, Black often plays …d5 or …0-0 and …d5, producing an isolated d-pawn for either side; endgames can favour Black while middlegames favour White’s activity.
• Piece Play. Both sides aim for rapid development. Knights frequently head for b5, e5 (White) or e4, c6 (Black). The queen on c2 can become a target for …Nc6-b4.

Historical Background

The Classical Variation (4.Qc2) was introduced by Akiba Rubinstein in the 1920s. The specific 4…c5 reply gained popularity in the 1960s after being tested by Tigran Petrosian and Boris Spassky. Modern exponents with Black include Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand, and Sergey Karjakin, while players such as Vladimir Kramnik and Levon Aronian have explored both sides.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Botvinnik-Petrosian, Moscow 1966 (shortened for diagrammatic clarity):

Black willingly accepted an isolated pawn on d5 because of his active minor pieces and the potential of …d4 or …Bb4-b4 pin.

Common Continuations

1. 5…d5
   Symmetrical break. After 6.cxd5 exd5, either side may get an IQP.
2. 5…0-0 6.dxc5 Na6
   Black defers …d5, preserves the bishop pair, and eyes …Nxc5.
3. 5…Nc6
   Flexibly increases pressure on d4 and prepares …d5 or …cxd4 followed by …e5.

Traps & Tactical Motifs

• Fork on c2. If White carelessly plays 6.dxc5? Black can reply 6…Na6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5 – both centre and c-file pressure.
• …Ne4 jump. In many lines after …Bxc3 Black reroutes the f6-knight to e4 hitting c3, g3, and sometimes f2.

Practical Tips

• As White, be ready to meet …cxd4 with either Nxd4 (active piece play) or cxd5 (structural transformation).
• As Black, decide early whether to capture on c3. Doing so yields the bishop pair but also gives White an un-doubled pawn structure.
• Watch the clock: positions can open suddenly; accurate calculation is often required after pawn breaks.

Interesting Facts

• Garry Kasparov scored several rapid wins with the Black side in the 1980s, convincing many grandmasters to add 4…c5 to their repertoires.
• Kramnik’s victory over Shirov, Dortmund 1998, featured the rare 5…Nc6 6.d5 Nd4!, illustrating the line’s tactical richness.
• Because White avoids doubled c-pawns, some theoreticians label 5.Nf3 the “safe-and-solid” line, yet database statistics show the highest decisive-game percentage of any 4.Qc2 branch.